Time to finish cooking and go to sleep. A park ranger is coming in the morning to pick up that adder (Vipera berus) that had the misfortune of slithering into our small yard. It ended up in a plastic bucket, hissing as loud as such a small (less than 1 metre) snake could hiss, and I put the bucket… Fuck. Where did I put that bucket?

Tokyo has been decried as a "black hole" that sucks in people, industry and resources from the rest of Japan. Can the Ishiba government's plan to revitalize the rest of the country stave off depopulation? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/03/japan/society/tokyo-brain-drain-depopulation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #depopulation #tokyo #cities #rurallife #japaneseeconomy

The government plans to strengthen support for regional companies that hire urban corporate workers with specialized know-how in the form of side jobs or dual jobs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/03/02/companies/regional-firms-urban-workers-hire/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #jobs #shigeruishiba #rurallife #workstylereform #freelance #telework

Driveway visitors. East Wachusett Brook winds through our property, and all sorts of wildlife cross the driveway to get a drink.
#rurallife #coyotes #bears

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is making convincing people to relocate from Tokyo to less-populated rural regions a key policy goal for realizing a “joyful Japan.” Will he succeed? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/02/18/japan/politics/ishiba-regional-revitalization/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #japaneseeconomy #shigeruishiba #localgovernment #population #depopulation #rurallife

Amid acute depopulation and the widespread use of cars, discussions are underway over whether to maintain or abolish a section of railway between Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/02/10/japan/japan-underutilized-trains/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #rail #jr #geibiline #hiroshima #depopulation #rurallife #jrwest

A traditional Scottish Highland cottage with stacks of peat ready for fuel, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Highlands. A glimpse into timeless rural life.

Power’s been out in my neighborhood in rural southern Oregon for 3 hrs on this heaviest snow day of the year. We lost 4 branches today on our property, so I’ll bet a tree took out a power pole. Power co. says service should be restored by 2:00 am tomorrow morning - in which case it’s gonna be a real cold night. Candles lit, bundling up, got out the down comforter to cover our wool blankets. House is pretty well insulated, but I still expect it to get cold. #RuralLife #CountryLife #FarmLife

While Okinawa Prefecture is perceived as resistant to the population decline affecting much of Japan, remote islands like Tonaki are facing an acute outflow of people, especially among younger generations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/02/03/japan/society/okinawa-remote-island-migration-policies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #okinawa #depopulation #children #rurallife

Chopping block.

Japan is considering a new system in which young officials from central government agencies split their time between Tokyo and regional areas to support small municipalities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/27/japan/politics/young-officials-municipalities-help/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #localgovernment #depopulation #rurallife #decentralization

Breakfast, day three without power - due to be back on by Midnight tonight according to the SPEN website.
Although not normally used as a toaster, this is the stove we cook on everyday (even when the power is on) and we are perfectly safe. The rest of the house is freezing, but this room is nicely warm.
#StormEowyn #PowerCut #RuralLife #Scotland

At 4pm we joined the 100,000 homes in Scotland without power and are better placed than many to cope with it. Thinking of the teams who work to restore our services as the wind continues to batter the house and trees around. #RuralLife #StormEowyn

Winter in Tokyo often means nothing more than a general graying of your surroundings, but a few hours to the north, Yamagata Prefecture offers a host of changing landscapes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/01/18/travel/yamagata-travel-seasons-tourism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #travel #travel #rurallife #yamagata

1979

https://nocontext.loener.nl/fullpage/12-December1979-Page-376.png

1978 Vintage Country Life Portrait

The image captures a moment reminiscent of rural life, possibly from the late '70s judging by the fashion and styling. The individuals are posed in front of what appears to be an equestrian setting, suggested by the presence of horseshoes on the wall behind them.

https://nocontext.loener.nl/fullpage/12-December1978-Page-400.png

#photography #illustration #madman #nocontext #sfw #vintage #rurallife #countrystyle #late'70sfashion #equestriansetting

While Japan is allowing more underperforming businesses to fail, the accounts suggest the worker shortage is threatening firms that are otherwise robust, including those that have invested in automation and creative hiring. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12/24/japan/japan-labor-crunch-small-town/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #depopulation #jobs #rurallife #ino #kochi

Farmers, Homesteaders, and Ranch Hands

Photographs by Arthur Rothstein in the 30s and 40s

#arthurrothstein #farmers #homesteaders #ranchhands #herders #americanfarmer #workers #farmlife #rurallife #photography #photographer #the40s #the30s #the1930s # #the1940s #vintagephotography #fotografia #farmhands